Sassa red flags reviews

ISSUES: ABOUT 210 000 BENEFICIARIES MUST PRESENT THEMSELVES

- Enkosi Selane & Oratile Mashilo

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has issued a warning that beneficiaries flagged for review will have their grants suspended if they fail to present themselves within three months of being notified.

Sassa CEO Themba Matlou emphasised yesterday that while no grants have been suspended yet, the agency will stop them if beneficiaries ignore review notices.

He said Sassa is legally required to provide beneficiaries with three months' notice before suspending their grants.

However, those who fail to respond to review notices face the prospect of having their grants lapse permanently.

"We'll have to lapse the grants because it could be that some are either potentially fraudulent cases, or the recipients don't qualify to get it," Matlou said.

He emphasised that the review process is essential for maintaining the integrity of the social assistance system, particularly as the agency works with other institutions to identify beneficiaries who may no longer qualify for grants.